Door lock



Jan. 8, 1952 c DlNGMAN 2,581,838

D'boR LOCK Filed March 8, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 IN V EN TOR.

@m-Wr' ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 8, 1952 11, DlNGMAN 2,581,838

DOOR LOCK Filed March 8, 1946 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 I INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 8. 1952 DQOR LOCK Thomas O. Dingman, South Bend, Ind., assig-nor to The Studebaker Corporation, South Bend, Ind a corporation of Delaware Application March 8, 19445, Serial No. 653,096

1 Claim.

My present invention relates to an improve ment in a door lock comprising a latch mechanism of a character providing for engagement of one or more cams with a rotatable bolt for urging the latter into engagement with a stationary keeper.

Door latch mechanisms of a type comprising a rotatable bolt adapted to have reelasable eneasement with a relatively stationary keeper and safety catch member therefor have gone into wide spread use in the automotive industry in recent years. Generally in such latch mechanisms one or more cams are spring loaded for biasing them into engagement with the bolt. When aplurality of cams are employed they are generally of different lengths to provide for pror ve n agement with the bolt with the springs being arranged so that the vibration of the vehicle during movement thereof serves to more positively engage the bolt with the keeper when the latch mechanism is in locked position.

These latch mechanisms of the prior art usually comprise a pair of door handle members varranged interiorly and exteriorly of the car door which are mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontally extending axis for rotating the cams against the force of the biasing springs to withdraw the cams from engagement with the bolt in order to free the latter from the keeper.

It has been proposed in the designin o automobile bodies to provide a door handle of the-pull type i.e., mounted for pivotal movement about a substantially vertically extending axis for unlatching the latch mechanism externally of the 'car. Also it is desirable to provide push 13 11 91 means internally oi the car arranged substantially flush with the interior surface of the. door to avoid the use of present forms of internal door handles which project interiorly of the car and form undesirable obstructions.

It is an object oi my invention to provide a latch mechanism of the type above described, embodying a novel form of slide member adapted to be actuated either interiorly or exteriorly of the vehicle, and which slide member i effective to cause rotation .of one or m re can member against the force of spring means for normally biasing cam means into engagement with a rotatable bolt adapted to have releasable locking engagement with a relatively stationary keeper.

A further object of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism comprising a rotatable bolt, spring loaded cam means for engaging the bolt to restrain the latter against rotation, and a slide member a ciated with he cam means and movable rectilinearly for rotating the cam means against the force of the spring mean to release the cam means from engagement with the bolt.

A further object is to provide a latch mechanism as aforesaid in which a slot and pin connecting means interconnects the cam means and the slide member whereby rotation of the cam member is adapted to be efiected by rectilinear movement of the slide member.

A further object is to provide a latch mechanism as aforesaid comprising a plurality of, cam members normally individually spring loaded for engagement with a rotatable bolt, and in which one of the cam members is adapted to have connection with the slide member for effecting movement of 'it against the force of its associated spring, and in which the latter cam member is formed to provide for the rotation of the other cam members against the forces of the springs associated therewith away from the bolt to rese the s m A further object of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism in which a cam means and. bolt are mounted for rotation about fixed substantially parallel axes and in which a slide member i arranged for rectilinear movement transversely of the axes of the bolt and cam means, and inter-connected with the cam means for rotating the same against the force of spring means normally biasing the cam means into engagement with the bolt to release the latter.

A further object of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism as last aforesaid in" which push button means is adapted to have connection with the slide member for effecting movement of the cam means from its normal position upon actuation of the push button means to release the lt A still further object of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism comp-rising a rotatable bolt, spring loaded cam means for normally restraining the bolt against rotation, a slide member having connection with the cam means and mounted for rectilinear movement, and a handle lever of the pull type pivoted intermediate its ends on an axis normal'to the axes of the bolt and cam means, and which handle is adapted to be rotated about its axis to engage the slide member to effect rectilinear movement of the latter to release the cam means from the bolt.

A further object of my invention is to provide a latch mechanism of the character herein above referred to in which a spring loaded cam nor mally engaged with a bolt for restraining move able lock means is provided for preventing rectilinear movement of the slide member.

The above and other objects and advantages of my invention will appearfrom the detail description.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of construction and uti lizing latch mechanisms in accordance with my invention, I shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention.

, In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a partial side elevational view of a pair of doors of an automotive vehicle illustrating the location and positioning of the latch mechanism of my present invention;

Figure 2 is a view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing in transverse section the construction of the door of Figure 1, and illustrating in plan a latch mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the latch mechanism shown in Figure 1 of the side thereof facing the exterior panel of the car door with this view being taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 4 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3 looking at the end of the latch mechanism adapted to be disposed in juxtaposition of the edge of the door; v

Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 5.--5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows with the end portion 'of a panel member extending transversely of the door inwardly o'f the latch mechanism-removed, and illustrating the push button means disposedinteriorly of the door and pull type handle lever means disposed vexteriorly of the door of the latch mechanism for actuating the same.

Figure 6 is a detail vertical sectional 'view taken substantially on line 6'6 of Figure 5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the upper portion of the latch mechanism facing the outer surface of the edge of the door, and illustrating the. assembly therewith of manually operable means for preventing actuation of the latch mechanism; and

Figure 8 is a detailed horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 7 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. I Referring now to the drawings, I have shown in Figure 1 a portion of a pair of hingedly mounted automobile doors 9-3 in which each of the doors 99 is provided with a latch mechanism adapted to have releasable engagement with a stationary keeper carriedby a door post extending substantially vertically between the edges of the pair of doors 9-9 opposite the hingedly mounted edges thereof. This construction isconventional in the art; It will be obthe abutment member 36.

served that the latch mechanism shown in Figures 2 through 8 has been shown in relation to the position of the latch mechanism in the door 9 at the left of Figure 1, but it will be understood that the latch mechanism in the door 9 to the right of Figure 1 is of identical construction but in reverse relation to that shown in. the several. figures of the drawings.

Referring now to Figure 2 it will be observed that the door 9 comprises a suitably formed interior sheet metal panel l4, and an exterior panel l5 with the panels l4 and I5 adjacent the free edge of the door 9 being arranged with the free end of the panel 14 enclosed between the folded end l6 of the panel [5. The panel member l4 forming the side edge of the door is recessed at IT to provide for the reception of the latch mechanism l8 of my invention. The outer sheet metal panel I5 is recessed as shown at 13 for the reception of a door handle 20 with the recess l9 being formed so that the handle 20' when disposed in its normal position therein lies substantially flush with the outer surface of the car door. The handle 20 is of the pull type and is mounted for pivotal movement intermediate its ends about a substantially vertically extending pin 2|. The long arm 22 of the handle20 is adapted to be graspedby placing of the hand into the recess I9 and swung in a counter-clockwise direction about'pivot pin 2| as viewed in Figure 2 to engage the free end'of the short arm 23 thereof with the end 24 of a slide member 25 referred to in greater detail hereinafter.

It will be observed as most clearly shown in Figures 2 to 4, that the latch mechanism of my invention comprises a latch facing plate 21 which together with a spaced plate member 28 form a frame for supporting certain of the mechanism of, the latch. The latch facing plate 21 is provided with a plurality of bolt holes 30 for mounting the frame in the recess 11 in the edge of the door. A bolt 3| is rotatably mounted about a horizontally extending pin 32, the opposite ends of which are secured in the plate member 28 and a in the cup shaped member 33 secured to extend outwardly of the latch facing plate 21 at the lower end thereof, as by spot welding of a radial- 1y extending flange 33' at the inner surface of the plate member 21. The rotatable bolt 3| comprises a pair of prong wheels 34 and 35 with the prong wheel 34 extending outwardly of the latch "facing plate 21 and disposed partially within the cup member 33. The prong wheel 34 is adapted to have releasable engagement with the stationary keeper I2 (shown in dotted outline in Figure 4) carried by the door post which is adapted to be received between the prongwheel 34 and the abutment member 36 extending outwardly of the latch facing plate 21. The prong wheel 3-5 is disposed between'the latch facing plate 21 and the plate member 28 and as shownit is adapted to be engaged by a plurality of cams 43, 44 and 45 of slightly progressing increasing lengths, and which cams are mounted for pivotal movement about a pin 42 extending between the latch facing plate 21 and the panel member 28 and through The outer ends of the pin 42 are peened or riveted to provide a fixed axis for the cam members, and for mounting of the abutment member 36 upon the outer face of the latch facing plate 21 as shown. A plurality of springs 4'I, 48 and 49 are provided one each for each of the cam members 43, 44 and 45 respectively, which springs at one end are supported between a pair of lugs 52- 52 struck u from a plate member 53 secured to the inner face of the latch facing plate 21. The springs 41, 48 and 49 are arranged for normally urgingthe cam members 43, 44' and 4.5 in aelockwisedirection as, viewed in Figure 4 into engagement with 9. prong of the'rotor or prong wheel 35 of. the bolt 3| to. urge the prong wheel 34, thereof into engagement with the keeper l2. The cam 45 as shown is provided with an upwardly extending portion 56 having a slot 51 therein through which a pin 58 fixed to the slide member 25 extends. The slide member 25 is adapted to have rectilinear sliding movement in a guide way formed by the upper edge 60 of the plate member 53 and a guide bar 62 disposed along the upper edge of the slide member 25. Upon movement of the slide member 25 to the left as viewed, in Figures 4 and 5, it will be observed that the cam member 45 will be caused to be rotated about its axis on the pin 42 in a counter-clockwise direction against the force of spring 49 releasing the cam member from engagement with the prong wheel member 35 of the bolt 3|. The cam member 45 along one edge thereof adjacent its pivotal mounting on the pin 42 (as best shown in Figure 8) is provided with an angular flanged portion 66 bent inwardly toward latch facing plate 21 and behind the cam members 43 and 44 for rotating them in a counter-clockwise direction against the force of springs 41 and 48 upon counter-clockwise rotation being imparted to the cam member 45 by rectilinear movement of slide member 25.

As previously related rectilinear sliding movement of the slide member 25 may be effective by grasping of the long arm 22 of the handle 20 and rotating it about the pivot 2| in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 which movement of the handle 28 is effective to cause the free end of the short arm 23 thereof to engage the end 24 of the slide member 25, which in turn effects limited counter-clockwise rotation of the cam 45 as viewed in Figure 4 to release this cam and the cams 43 and 44 from engagement with prong wheel portion 35 of the rotatable bolt 3|. Upon release of the pron wheel member 35 the prong wheel portion 34 of the bolt 3| may be released from engagement with the keeper l2 after which the door 9 may be opened by continued pulling of the handle 28.

Referring now to Figure 5 I have shown a, push button means indicated generally at 18 and which comprises a push button 1| of known construction mounted for reciprocable movement in a shell 12 suitably secured in the interior panel l4 of the door. The spring 13 normally maintains the push button H in its inoperative position as shown in Figure 5. Upon depression of push button H with the thumb or otherwise it is caused to be moved to the right as viewed in Figure 5 with the closed end thereof engaging the free end of a link 15 which is connected at its other end to one end of a horizontally extending rod 16 which as shown in Figure 2 is mounted for rotation in a pair of bearing members suitably secured internally of the door and to the panel member |4 thereof. A link 18 is secured to the other end of the rod 16 and is provided with a slot 19 in its free end into which the pin 58 fixed to the slide member 25 extends. Thus upon movement of the push button II inwardly of the door the link I5, as viewed in Figure 5, is caused to be rotated in a clockwise direction imparting clockwise rotation to the rod '16 and the link I8 at the other end thereof and which through the connection of the link lit-with the pin 5810f the slide member 25 causes. the slide member 25 to move tov the left, as viewed inthis figure causing thecam member 45 to. rotate. about itsaxis ina counter clockwise directiontogether ,withthe pair of cam members 43 and 44 tore lease the: prongxwheel' member 3.5 of thebolt 3| aspreviously described. g I -Itwi1l thus, be observed that. rectilinearslidnsmovement. isadan ed tome imparted to the slidgmcmber 2 5,, selectively, by eitherthe handle means 20, or the push button means 10 to withdraw the cams' from'the. bolt and to release the b01t,.3l;; ,Qm the keeperlz and efiegtonenin of thedoora' either exteriorly or interiorlybf the vehicle.

Reference may now be had to Figures 5 through 8 from which it will be observed that I have also embodied a manually operable lock means for preventing the rectilinear movement of the slide member 25 by actuation of either the handle means 20 or the push button means 10. The lock means comprises a substantially vertically slidable rod 8| having connection at the lower end thereof with a locking member 83. The

locking member 83 is adapted to be reciprocatedsubstantially vertically by grasping of the knob 84 at the upper end of the rod 8| to slide the lock member in or out of position for engaging the inner flanged end 86 of the slide member 25. The inside corner edge of the latch facing plate 21 and the guide bar 62 are arranged to provide for guiding of the lock bar vertically in and out of position for engagement with the out turned flanged end 86 of the slide member 25. Thus upon the depressing of the knob 84 the rod 8| effects sliding movement of the lockingmember 83 downwardly to a position where it will be abutted by the out turned flanged end 86 of the slide bar 25 upon manipulation of either the handle means 20 or the push button means 10 to prevent release of the cam members from camming engagement with the prong wheel portion 35 of the rotatable bolt 3 l While I have shown what I consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood that various rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

In a latch mechanism for use with automobile doors or the like, a face plate member designed to mount said mechanism, a second plate member mounted to said face plate but spaced therefrom in parallel relation thereto, a pair of prong wheels mounted one between said two plates and one exteriorly of said face plate for simultaneous and interdependent rotative movement on a horizontally disposed pin member reaching between said two plates, a plurality of vertically disposed cam arms of progressively increasing lengths pivotally connected to said face plate, spring means normally urging said cam arms into engagement with said prong wheel disposed between said two plates to normally prevent rotative movement of both of said prong wheels, a horizontally disposed slide bar mounted for rectilinear sliding movement between said two plates, above said arms and in operative engagement therewith for periodically pivoting said cam arms in an arcuate path against the force of said spring means to release said prong wheels, said sliding movement of said slide bar adapting said latch mechanism for operation from either side of amen-ass said'door-iiy ineans o'f suitable manual. operators havingactuating connection with said slide bar and a vertically movable, manually actuatedlocking block disposed between saidtwo plates in adjacentrelation :with one end of said slide bar and operable from the interior ofv said automobile for interfering with and preventing'saidrectilinear movement of said slide bar thereby to "stop said cams from releasing said prong wheels whereby said mechanism is frozen-ma locked condition.

THOMAS'C. DINGMANQ imrimmmsmmni h file of" this 'patent:

he following referenees are of reeord' 'in tlie :Nnniber 2,094,413;

[Anderson Apr. 20, 1948 

